Author: Scott Welch
When medical insurance provider Centene (CNC) opened its books to investors on Friday, the company reported a surprising loss and an uptick in usage. The latter is a broader problem for the industry. In the second quarter, Centene reported an adjusted loss of $79 million and a “health benefits ratio” of 93%. Its benefits ratio, or the ...
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has published its preliminary technical Medicare Part D bid information for the 2026 contract year, with updates intended to limit significant increases in cost-sharing and premium hikes. The changes in how CMS approves certain standalone prescription drug plan (PDP) sponsors have resulted in the first-ever rejections of standalone PDP bids. ...
The European Union’s trade deal with the United States could cost the pharmaceutical industry between $13 billion and $19 billion as branded medicines become subject to a tariff of 15%, analysts said on Monday. The added costs could raise prices for consumers unless pharmaceutical companies take action to mitigate the impact of the tariffs, one of the ...
The American Benefits Council is urging Congress to consider the cost to employers, workers and their families as it proposes changes to the 340B drug pricing program.
Fortina Hernández is called “the one who knows it all.” For more than two decades, the community health worker has supported hundreds of families throughout southeast Los Angeles by helping them sign up for food assistance, sharing information about affordable health coverage, and managing medications for their chronic illnesses. She’s guided by the expression “an ...
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is considering ousting all the members of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), a key advisory panel that offers guidance on preventive services, according to media reports. The Wall Street Journal reported Friday that RFK Jr. plans to dismiss all 16 panel members of ...
Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford and Democratic officials in 20 other states filed a lawsuit challenging a new federal health insurance rule that tightens restrictions for enrolling in marketplace plans through the Affordable Care Act and bans coverage requirements for gender-affirming care. The officials argue that the new rule could strip coverage from millions of ...
Republicans’ “big, beautiful” law will add $3.394 trillion to deficits during the next decade and lead 10 million people to lose access to health insurance, according to an analysis released Monday by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office. The updated assessment of the sweeping tax and spending cuts law came weeks after nearly every GOP lawmaker ...
A number of Republicans criticized Medicare Advantage during a congressional hearing on Tuesday, suggesting that the privatized Medicare program could be due for an overhaul from Washington. Calls to reform MA from Democrats are nothing new. But members of the GOP condemning MA is notable given the party’s traditional support for the program, in which ...
A new bipartisan bill would mandate that Medicare Advantage (MA) insurers “adequately reimburse” providers for services, citing a trend of health systems pulling out of MA contracts. The Prompt and Fair Pay Act was introduced by Reps. Lloyd Doggett, D-Texas, and Greg Murphy, R-N.C. The legislation would require that insurers pay providers at least what ...